*with apologies to RSO Records
Tip of the Day: Need last minute gift ideas? Buy books. Seriously. For everyone you know. Support the industry!
Every year I buy books for my friends and family for Christmas -- whether or not they want them. :) I considered buying ebooks for some family members, but I don't know how I would do that exactly. Buy B&N/Amazon gift cards? I'm sure there's another way but I'm not sure what it is right now. So I went with good old paper books.
What I bought:
THE HUNGER GAMES by Suzanne Collins for my two girlfriends who must read this book before the movie releases in March
UNBROKEN by Laura Hillenbrand for my dad and uncle; both are interested in flying, lived through WWII, and hopefully can discuss it with each other once they've read it.
JUST YOUR AVERAGE PRINCESS by Kristina Springer for my sis and sis-in-law. My sister sometimes reads this blog, but it should come as no surprise to her since I buy all of Tina's hilarious novels for them to compete with the sometimes tough realities and less humorous situations of our lives.
AU REVOIR, CRAZY EUROPEAN CHICK by Joe Schrieber for my brother, who usually reads and enjoys the YA titles I buy for him. This one I think he will especially appreciate since it is hilarious and each chapter starts with a real essay question from college applications and he is getting ready to interview and universities for a professorship. It is seriously too funny.
1Q84 by Haruki Murakami for my husband. I haven't read this one yet myself, but it's getting lots of buzz and he needs something else big to read while waiting for the next George R. R. Martin novel to come out.
I love having an excuse to buy lots of books! What titles did you buy for friends and relatives this holiday season?
Deena, Miss Subbing for Pubbing
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Best of Em: The things you can learn on Wikipedia!
Em's on break and we hope she has a very Merry Christmas! Here's a flashback to summer 2010.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
The things you can learn on Wikipedia!
Tip of the Day: Wikipedia is sometimes not your friend :( Boo.
In an attempt to be more organized this summer, I actually had a blog post and idea ready to go today. But then my husband sent me a text message this morning, and quite frankly it was too funny not to share.
We are in the process of moving to another state. With that comes all the packing, planning, and the fun of finding a new place to live. We originally had an apartment lined up, but as I’ve gotten further into the job search, we discovered we might have to move a bit farther out from the city to be halfway between both of our jobs. So this morning, my husband was researching one of those small towns on Wikipedia, and came across this gem of a paragraph in the town’s local history section:
In an attempt to be more organized this summer, I actually had a blog post and idea ready to go today. But then my husband sent me a text message this morning, and quite frankly it was too funny not to share.
We are in the process of moving to another state. With that comes all the packing, planning, and the fun of finding a new place to live. We originally had an apartment lined up, but as I’ve gotten further into the job search, we discovered we might have to move a bit farther out from the city to be halfway between both of our jobs. So this morning, my husband was researching one of those small towns on Wikipedia, and came across this gem of a paragraph in the town’s local history section:“Recently, scientists have discovered a time portal under a local farmers porch that leads to the Middle Ages on Planet 3GHJ8 in another dimension. This dimension is still being searched upon, it may either be the 8th or 9th dimension.”
Now I like to consider myself open-minded. As an avid reader, I love to suspend reality and believe anything is possible when reading a good book. But my hunch is telling me, someone is playing a joke on the good readers of Wikipedia.
And it is funny. It certainly gave me a good laugh this morning.
But it was also a great reminder that sometimes not everything you read on Wikipedia is fact. And for those of us that use Wikipedia as a resource (which face it all of us have done at one time or another when looking up a small bit of info. It’s just so darn easy and convenient not too), it’s nice to remember to go to other sources as well!
--Emily, Miss Querylicious
Picture borrowed from: http://imagine8.wordpress.com/2009/03/27/weak-pedia/
Monday, December 19, 2011
Ta-Da! SLEEPERS Cover Reveal!
Tip of the Day: Follow a Twitterview interview today with J.S. Chancellor, author of 6 books and today's release ICARUS, by searching #Icarus.
Today I have the privilege of unveiling the new cover of a re-release of a great book: Megg Jensen's SLEEPERS!
To celebrate the re-launch of SLEEPERS in January of 2012, Megg is giving it a new cover with artwork from the incredible PhatPuppy.
So why do you want to read SLEEPERS? Here's the story. An adoptee raised in a foreign land, sixteen-year-old Lianne was content with her life as handmaiden to the queen, until a spell cast on her at birth activated. Now she's filled with uncontrollable rage and access to magic she thought had been bled from her people years ago. Even her years of secret training in elite hand-to-hand combat and meditation can’t calm the fires raging inside her.
Her heart is torn between two boys, the one she’s always loved and the one who always ignored her. But when the kingdom threatens to tear itself apart due to rumors surrounding the queen’s alleged affair, who will Lianne protect and who will she destroy?
And it's on sale now for only 99 cents! Sales outlets for SLEEPERS:
http://meggjensen.blogspot.com/p/where-to-buy-meggs-books.html
For reviews, check out Goodreads at http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11815829-sleepers. Or follow Megg around the Internet--
Megg on the web:
Website: http://www.meggjensen.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/meggjensenauthor
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/meggjensen
Thanks for sharing the new cover with us, Megg.
-- Kate, Miss Perfecting the Pages
P.S. Blogger is currently experiencing technical difficulties. I'll be back to fix the links later today.
Today I have the privilege of unveiling the new cover of a re-release of a great book: Megg Jensen's SLEEPERS!
To celebrate the re-launch of SLEEPERS in January of 2012, Megg is giving it a new cover with artwork from the incredible PhatPuppy.
So why do you want to read SLEEPERS? Here's the story. An adoptee raised in a foreign land, sixteen-year-old Lianne was content with her life as handmaiden to the queen, until a spell cast on her at birth activated. Now she's filled with uncontrollable rage and access to magic she thought had been bled from her people years ago. Even her years of secret training in elite hand-to-hand combat and meditation can’t calm the fires raging inside her.
Her heart is torn between two boys, the one she’s always loved and the one who always ignored her. But when the kingdom threatens to tear itself apart due to rumors surrounding the queen’s alleged affair, who will Lianne protect and who will she destroy?
And it's on sale now for only 99 cents! Sales outlets for SLEEPERS:
http://meggjensen.blogspot.com/p/where-to-buy-meggs-books.html
For reviews, check out Goodreads at http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11815829-sleepers. Or follow Megg around the Internet--
Megg on the web:
Website: http://www.meggjensen.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/meggjensenauthor
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/meggjensen
Thanks for sharing the new cover with us, Megg.
-- Kate, Miss Perfecting the Pages
P.S. Blogger is currently experiencing technical difficulties. I'll be back to fix the links later today.
Friday, December 16, 2011
Thursday, December 15, 2011
What's your Crystal Ball Say?
Tip of the Day: Check out Ally Carter's interesting post about how the industry has changed in the last six years.
Assuming you followed the tip and just read Ally's post, I thought we could share what our predictions for the future of YA are too. Ally first mentioned that ebooks are booming, and we've all noticed this too. Still, they keep saying it's only 10% of the industry. I'm wondering if this number is even valid anymore though. Considering Amazon says Kindle is the #1 selling product on their site, I'm thinking it's becoming more than 10% of books. And considering bookstores are closing around me and now we have to drive farther and farther to get to a store, well, yeah. I think ebooks are going to jump and take over more of the industry very fast.
And I'm seeing more and more traditional authors make the change to indie publishing as well. With fewer books being bought (publishers seem to be putting more money into acquiring fewer books in the hopes they will be big sellers) lots of authors are saying heck with it and making the switch to indie publishing. And doing pretty well with it. I've talked with a number of indie authors who are pulling in several thousand a month from the sales of their ebooks. On the flip side, Amazon is playing nice now and making it sweet for authors to put out their own books but they may not always play nice. Who knows, they may just be waiting until they have big enough control of the industry and then will flip the rules on the authors and cut their royalties. I do think they are the reason ebooks have suddenly taken off though. People think ebooks are a recent thing but there have been ebook publishers for a long time now. The first one I remember seeing was back in 1996-- Hard Shell Word Factory. But not many people responded to ebooks before Amazon and the Kindle.
And what about genre? Ally mentions that pink books are all but extinct (No! Say it ain't so!) and that even darker books seem to be winding down. Huh. But then what's next on the horizon? I refuse to believe that romance will ever die. People love to be in love. Love to read about love. It can't go away. And funny is, well funny! I can see darker books winding down a bit because the market is flooded but they won't disappear. The next big thing though? I can't figure it out. Any guesses?
Kristina, Miss Author in Action
Assuming you followed the tip and just read Ally's post, I thought we could share what our predictions for the future of YA are too. Ally first mentioned that ebooks are booming, and we've all noticed this too. Still, they keep saying it's only 10% of the industry. I'm wondering if this number is even valid anymore though. Considering Amazon says Kindle is the #1 selling product on their site, I'm thinking it's becoming more than 10% of books. And considering bookstores are closing around me and now we have to drive farther and farther to get to a store, well, yeah. I think ebooks are going to jump and take over more of the industry very fast.
And I'm seeing more and more traditional authors make the change to indie publishing as well. With fewer books being bought (publishers seem to be putting more money into acquiring fewer books in the hopes they will be big sellers) lots of authors are saying heck with it and making the switch to indie publishing. And doing pretty well with it. I've talked with a number of indie authors who are pulling in several thousand a month from the sales of their ebooks. On the flip side, Amazon is playing nice now and making it sweet for authors to put out their own books but they may not always play nice. Who knows, they may just be waiting until they have big enough control of the industry and then will flip the rules on the authors and cut their royalties. I do think they are the reason ebooks have suddenly taken off though. People think ebooks are a recent thing but there have been ebook publishers for a long time now. The first one I remember seeing was back in 1996-- Hard Shell Word Factory. But not many people responded to ebooks before Amazon and the Kindle.
And what about genre? Ally mentions that pink books are all but extinct (No! Say it ain't so!) and that even darker books seem to be winding down. Huh. But then what's next on the horizon? I refuse to believe that romance will ever die. People love to be in love. Love to read about love. It can't go away. And funny is, well funny! I can see darker books winding down a bit because the market is flooded but they won't disappear. The next big thing though? I can't figure it out. Any guesses?
Kristina, Miss Author in Action
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Tip of the Day: It's time to decide: Are you a Man or a Muppet?
I have a sneaking suspicion that I am getting an ereader for Christmas. *New toy excitement!*
While I have bought ebooks and have read some on my husband's iPad when we were on vacation, I have yet to read one since we've been home. With an ereader, that might change; I can see the ereader being an easy way to read books while on the exercise bike (now I favor reading paperbacks while on the bike).
However, since I will never be able to resist the allure of the paper book, I will always have piles of those all over the house. And since they are visual reminders of the books I intend to read, I wonder if I will still favor those over an ebook purchases/library check outs that I may make.
Or if I'll become a total convert.
Time will tell!
Are you receiving or giving an ereader for the holidays this year?
Deena, Miss Subbing for Pubbing
I have a sneaking suspicion that I am getting an ereader for Christmas. *New toy excitement!*
While I have bought ebooks and have read some on my husband's iPad when we were on vacation, I have yet to read one since we've been home. With an ereader, that might change; I can see the ereader being an easy way to read books while on the exercise bike (now I favor reading paperbacks while on the bike).
However, since I will never be able to resist the allure of the paper book, I will always have piles of those all over the house. And since they are visual reminders of the books I intend to read, I wonder if I will still favor those over an ebook purchases/library check outs that I may make.
Or if I'll become a total convert.
Time will tell!
Are you receiving or giving an ereader for the holidays this year?
Deena, Miss Subbing for Pubbing
Monday, December 12, 2011
Christmas Time Spying ... um, Volunteering
Tip of the Day: Start a collection of unbreakable holiday ornaments. Someday your house may be taken over by toddlers, kittens, and/or large dogs.
I'm late with my post today because I was volunteering at my son's school to wrap donated presents for an inner city school. This is a great opportunity for the kids to volunteer in a way their efforts can be appreciated, and it's a great opportunity for me to spy on my future readers.
I hate to be sexist, but why is it that boys can't wrap presents but girls can? Don't men brag about having better spacial perception? And yet they are incapable of eyeballing a square of wrapping paper and realizing it's way too small to wrap the present in front of them. I am proud to say that today I sent several tween boys to wrapping school. Their parents will be impressed with their new skill, I'm sure.
The gifts on everyone's want list this year are basketballs, footballs, and Bop-Its. Have you ever tried to wrap those things? Spacial perception indeed.
Books are easy to wrap, even if you're a 12-year-old boy. Alright, maybe not then. For some great gift suggestions, check out Tina's YA and MG books on the sidebar for the young women in your life. Young boys will love the new Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever. I read 3 pages and fell on the floor laughing. Books with military themes are also "in" this year, judging by my spying (I mean volunteering) at my kids' school book festivals. If you're lucky enough to have a local, independent bookstore, I'm jealous of you. Support it and keep that asset in your community!
And seriously, teach your kids to wrap presents.
-- Kate, Miss Perfecting the Pages
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